AIR OPERATOR
CERTIFICATION
AIR OPERATOR
CERTIFICATION
• THE AIR OPERATOR
CERTIFICATE - ICAO ANNEX 6,
• 4.2.1.1 An operator shall not
engage in commercial air
transport operations unless in
possession of a valid air operator
certificate or equivalent document
issued by the State of the
Operator.
THE AIR OPERATOR
CERTIFICATE
• 4.2.1.2 The air operator certificate….
shall authorize the operator to conduct
commercial air transport operations in
accordance with such conditions and
limitations as may be specified.
THE AIR OPERATOR
CERTIFICATE
• 4.2.1.3 The issue of an AOC …….by the
State of the Operator shall be
dependent
upon
the
operator
demonstrating
an
adequate
organization, method of control and
supervision of flight operations, training
programme
and
maintenance
arrangements consistent with the nature
and extent of the operations specified.
THE AIR OPERATOR
CERTIFICATE • The AOC shall contain at least the
following:
– a) operator's identification (name, location);
– b) date of issue and period of validity;
– c) description of the types of operations
authorized;
– d) the type(s) of aircraft authorized for use;
and
– e)authorized areas of operation or routes.
THE AIR OPERATOR
CERTIFICATE
• THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS.
The certification process is divided into
steps:
– Pre-application
– Formal application
– Preliminary financial, economic, and legal
assessment of the application
– Preliminary technical assessment
– Operational inspections
– Decision on application and award of AOC
and ops specs
AOC - PRE-APPLICATION
PHASE
• This phase includes preliminary
contact, prior to formal application.
• CAA to make the potential operator
aware of the regulatory requirements
• Show exact steps in the certification
process
• Applicant is given understanding of
the form, content, and documents
required for the formal application.
AOC - FORMAL APPLICATION
CONTENT:
– A. The name and address of the applicant and
the main base of the proposed operations;
– B. A description of the applicant's business
organization;
– C. Information on management organization
and key staff members, including their title,
name, background, qualifications and
experience;
AOC - FORMAL APPLICATION
• Detailed information on the operations
(AW) under the following headings :
– type of aircraft, equipment, instruments, equipment
and flight documents to be used;
– State of Registry of the aircraft, (copy of lease);
– arrangements personnel training and qualification;
– installations and equipment available;
– nature of operations - passenger/cargo, VFR or IFR,
etc.;
– arrangements for maintenance and inspection of
aircraft and associated equipment;
AOC - FORMAL APPLICATION
• MAINTENANCE DOCUMENTATION
– General Maintenance Manual (GMM) (This
manual may be combined with the GOM
for certain operators.)
– Maintenance Program/Manuals
– Weight and Balance Procedures
– Maintenance Training Program/Manual
– Minimum Equipment List (MEL/CDL
– Maintenance Reliability Program
– Continuous Analysis and Surveillance
AOC - FORMAL
APPLICATION
• COMPLIANCE
DOCUMENT
• detailed description of
how the applicant
intends to show
compliance with each
provision of the
applicable code of air
navigation regulations;
AOC - FORMAL
APPLICATION
• Financial data; and
• Desired date for
operation to commence.
AOC - PRELIMINARY
ASSESSMENT
• GENERAL.
– Very Important
– Must try to establish competence at the
initial stage,
– Less likely to have serious problems later
on.
– Essential to reveal any critical deficiencies
in the applicant's proposals
– Will enable the operator to prepare
alternative proposals
AOC - PRELIMINARY
ASSESSMENT.
• GENERAL
– If deficiencies are found applicant should
be given a reasonable opportunity to rectify
– otherwise the application should be
rejected.
– This preliminary assessment consists of
two phases:
• Financial, economic and legal
assessment
• Technical Assessment/Document review
AOC - PRELIMINARY
ASSESSMENT
• CHECK APPLICANT HAS:
– sufficient financial resources;
– a route structure for the proposed
operation;
– an intended level of service that meets a
need or demand and is in the public
interest;
– proposed an operation that is in accord
with bi-lateral agreements;
(Cont.)
AOC - PRELIMINARY
ASSESSMENT
• CHECK APPLICANT HAS:
– presented traffic studies indicating that
the proposed operation should be
economically successful; and
– management structure and suitable
personnel, equipment, facilities,
manuals, buildings, service agreements,
etc., or will be able to obtain them.
AOC - PRELIMINARY
ASSESSMENT
LEASING
Unless suitable arrangements
are made by the State of Registry and
the State of the Operator, complex legal
problems as well as safety problems,
particularly in respect of the continuing
airworthiness and operations
supervision, may result.
AOC - PRELIMINARY
TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT
• DOCUMENT REVIEW (AW)
• Review the following:
–
–
–
–
–
Aircraft Flight Manual(s)
Minimum Equipment Lists CDL
Weight and Balance Manual
Maintenance Manual(GMM)
*Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance
Program/Manuals
– Maintenance Training Program/Manual
– Maintenance Reliability Program
– Continuous Analysis and Surveillance System
AOC - PRELIMINARY
TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT
• GENERAL
• The company manuals must be
sufficiently detailed to provide a
comprehensive account of practically
every aspect of the operator's
organization, policies, and procedures.
The primary focus of the preliminary
technical assessment will be upon the
information provided by the prospective
operator in these manuals.
PRELIMINARY TECHNICAL
ASSESSMENT
• GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Can the aircraft be properly
maintained, inspected and
supported with the available
maintenance and spare parts
resources?
• Are the aircraft suitably
instrumented and equipped for the
proposed operation?
AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTIONS
• GENERAL.
– AW inspections are normally conducted in
the following sequence:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Organizational Structure Evaluation
Maintenance management
Records Inspection
Line Station Facility Inspection
Main Base Facility Inspection
Training program Inspection
Emergency Evacuation
Demonstration
General Maintenance manual
Review
Proving Flights including Line
Stations
AIRWORTHINESS
INSPECTIONS
• ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND
MANAGEMENT EVALUATION
– Must be further evaluated to ensure proper
control
– Verify that written policies are fully
understood and implemented .
– clear lines of authority and specific duties
and responsibilities of individuals are
established.
– Must be clearly outlined in the applicant's
manuals,
AIRWORTHINESS
INSPECTIONS
• MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT
• Personnel responsible for inspection
and maintenance must be qualified.
• Key personnel still required even if all
maintenance is contracted out.
• The positions that are required include
the following:
– The Director of Maintenance,
– The Chief Inspector
AIRWORTHINESS
INSPECTIONS
• Consolidated Positions.
•
•
•
•
– An airworthiness Manager may hold more
than one position however he must meet
the qualification requirements for both
positions.
Chief Engineer always required
Chief Inspector may not always required,
Part time staff may be acceptable
Deviations to the rule may be authorised.
AIRWORTHINESS
INSPECTIONS
• RECORDS INSPECTIONS.
• ensure a suitable system exists
for creating, preserving and
retrieving required records, and
the records as required by the
national regulations, are being
kept for the specified periods..
AIRWORTHINES
INSPECTIONS
• LINE STATION FACILITY
INSPECTIONS.
• Every airport should be inspected
prior to first revenue flight or
during any proving flights.
AIRWORTHINESS
INSPECTIONS
• MAIN BASE FACILITY INSPECTION
• Evaluate
– Housing and Facilities
– Technical documents
– Equipment, tools, and test equipment,
• Review Personnel list. Ensure that:
– The maintenance organization/applicant
has sufficient number of
supervisory/licenced and inspection
personnel.
AIRWORTHINESS
ORGANISATION
• TRAINING PROGRAMME
INSPECTION.
• Ensure the operator has a structured
training and recurrent training program
for all maintenance staff.
• Maintenance/inspection training
programs are the most efficient manner
to inform personnel of the requirements
of the operator/applicant's program.
PROVING FLIGHTS.
• As a final demonstration that he
has the proper organization, facilities,
equipment, and training to successfully
carry out revenue flights, the applicant
will be required to perform a series of
proving flights in accordance with the
national requirement.
ISSUANCE OF THE AOC &
OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS
• GENERAL
The preceding process will have
provided specific information related to:
– the scope of the applicant's proposed
operation;
– the adequacy of the organization and
resources;and
– reveal any deficiencies.
ISSUANCE OF THE AOC
• DETERMINATION ON THE
APPLICATION.
• Following the completion of the assessment
and inspection programme, the Inspector will
recommend to the Director that the applicant
is either:
• properly equipped and capable in all respects
of conducting the proposed operation, or
• is not, or is not yet capable of conducting the
proposed operation
ISSUANCE OF THE AOC.
The AOC will contain or make reference
to the following information:
• operator's identification (name,
location);
• date of issue and period of validity;
• description of the types of operations
authorized;
• the type(s) of aircraft authorized for use;
and
ISSUANCE OF
OPERATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS.
• Operations specifications and
limitations applicable to an
AOC will be issued in
conjunction with the issue of
the AOC certificate and form
part of the certificate.
ISSUANCE OF OPERATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
• For purposes of standardization ,
operations specifications may be
divided into separate parts as follows:
• Part A - General Provisions
• Part B - En-route authorizations and
limitations
• Part C - Aerodrome authorizations and
limitations
• Part D - Maintenance
• Part E - Mass and balance
• Part F - Interchange of equipment operations
• Part G - Aircraft leasing operations
OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART D - AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE
•
•
•
•
D71. Additional Maintenance requirements
D72. Aircraft maintenance - general requirements.
D73. Approved aircraft inspection program- GA
D74. Reliability program authorization: entire
aircraft
• D75. Reliability program authorization:airframe,
powerplant, systems or selected items...
• D76. Short term escalation authorization.
• D77. Maintenance contractual arrangement
authorization: for entire aircraft.
OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS
CONTINUED
• D78. Maintenance contractual arrangement
authorization: for specific maintenance
• D79. Reliability program contractual
arrangement authorization
• D80. Leased aircraft maintenance program
authorizations:
• D81. Parts pool agreement authorization
• D82. Prorated time authorization.
• D83. Parts borrowing authorization
• D84. Special flight permit with continuous
authorization to conduct ferry flights
OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS
• D85. Aircraft listing
• D86. Maintenance program authorization for
two engine airplanes used in extended range
operation.
• D87. Maintenance program authorization for
leased foreign aircraft operated by (local) air
carriers
• D88. Maintenance time limitations
• D90- D94 reserved:
• D95. Minimum equipment list authorization.
OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS
• APPENDIX A – Maintenance Time
Limitations section (For operators
with a partial reliability program or
no reliability program)
• PART E
• E96. WEIGHT AND BALANCE CONTROL
PROCEDURES
TYPICAL OPS SPECIFICATION
D74. RELIABILITY PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION: ENTIRE AIRCRAFT
((Date)).
The certificate holder is authorized to use the provisions of its maintenance reliability
program for the aircraft identified in the following table.
AIRCRAFT
MAKE/MODEL/SERIES
DOCUMENT NAME
AND NUMBER
DOCUMENT
DATE
BOEING 737-200
AVOR AIRLINES
RELIABILITY AV-13A
07/10/87
BOEING 737-300
AVOR AIRLINES
RELIABILITY AV-13A
07/10/87
a. The program description and the standards for determining maintenance intervals and
processes are contained in the certificate holder's document in the table above.
b. The time limitation for the overhaul, inspections, and checks of the aircraft and related
systems including appliances and components controlled by the program shall be
contained in the certificate holder's computer program (Identify).
c. If the program document is canceled, the maintenance program shall be completely
reevaluated by the (NATIONAL AUTHORITY). Maintenance and overhaul time limits
shall then be reestablished by the operator and approved by the (NATIONAL
AUTHORITY).